Wage payment suit allowed

The Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal has just handed employee plaintiffs a small victory in their wage payment claim. The employees resigned, started a competing business and solicited customers of their former employer. The employer successfully sued the employees in a Texas federal court and were awarded a $1,430,000.00 judgement for damages for breach of fiduciary duty. The employees had filed a claims for unpaid wages and bonuses. After receiving the federal court judgment, the employer filed an exception of res judicata, which was granted by the trial court. The Third Circuit analyzed the record anc concluded res judicata did not bar the employees wage claims.